OFFICE OF THE FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR (a program of Family Services)

SANTA BARBARA:
1100 Anacapa Street,  First Floor,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 882-4660

(SANTA MARIA: For services in Santa Maria, click here.)

CAN I GET SOME HELP WITH CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES?

Custody and Visitation Classes: The Office of the Family Law Facilitator in Santa Barbara offers free classes on custody and visitation issues. If you want a Family Law Facilitator to help you get or change your custody and/or visitation orders, you must start the process by attending the 2-part class described below. 

• Current custody / visitation class schedule is available here
• [El horario actual de la clase de patria potestad y la visitacion se encuentra aquí en español] 
  
  

1. The first part of the class is entitled "Custody and the Law Class." It explains what "custody and visitation" is, what the court looks at in creating the first orders for custody and visitation, and what the court looks at in changing an existing order for custody and visitation. The class explains your legal options in addressing custody and visitation problems.  Registration starts at 9:15 a.m. and the class ends at 12:00 noon.  The class is free
   
   
2. The second part of the class is entitled the "Legal Forms Class." It provides procedural instruction on how to go to Family Court Services mediation and on what legal forms and pleadings are needed in order to go to court regarding custody and visitation issues.   Registration starts at 1:15 p.m. and the class ends at approximately 3:30 p.m.  The class is free. 

• The classes are held once approximately every 4 weeks.
• Participation is on a first come, first serve basis. You go to Family Court Services at the appointed time in order to register on the day of the class.
• Please call (805) 882-4660 for the class schedule and for further information. 
•  Please do not bring children to the classes. Click here to see the days and hours of operation of the Court’s Children’s Waiting Room in Santa Barbara.
• Bring a pen and copies of your court documents, if any.
  

I WANT A DIVORCE, LEGAL SEPARATION OR ANNULMENT.  CAN YOU HELP WITH THAT?

Divorce (Legal Separation and Nullity of Marriage) Workshops (in Santa Barbara):  

• Divorce (Legal Separation and Nullity) Workshops in Santa Barbara: See the flyer for information.
• ESPANOL: TRAMITAR SU PROPIO DIVORCIO: Esta el cuarto jueves de cada mes de las 8:00 a.m.
  

 

NOTE:

1. Class and clinic dates are subject to change.  Please check the latest Walk-in Clinic Schedule for the Santa Barbara office for the most up-to-date information on office closures. 
   • Walk-in Clinic Schedule
   • El horario de la Asesoría en Derecho Familiar (Español)
2. Please do not bring children to the classes or clinic.  Click here to see the days and hours of operation of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court's Children's Waiting Room in Santa Barbara.
3. Bring your own pen and relevant paperwork.

SANTA MARIA

Office of the Family Law Facilitator, Family Court Services
312-E East Cook St., Ste. 239
Santa Maria, CA 93454 
(805) 614-6442

Santa Maria Class Schedules:

• Classes in Santa Maria

Clinic Hours:

• Clinic Hours in Santa Maria

LOMPOC

The North County Family Law Facilitator has office hours in Lompoc every Friday.There are no same day or walk in appointments. Appointments are made in advance and can be made by either visiting the clerk or calling 614-6442 to schedule.

• SERVICES ARE FREE
• Appointments are coordinated through the Clerk’s Office, Lompoc Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, 115 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, CA 93436
• Appointments begin at 9:30 a.m.
• Last appointment is at 2:30 p.m.
• Customers who do not speak English will need to bring their own interpreter
• Click here to get the schedule for the Office of the Family Law Facilitator in Lompoc.

• Lompoc Clinic Hours

Parent Education Programs

The Superior Court requires all parents involved in a Family Law proceeding where there are minor children to attend and complete the mandatory parent education program. The action before the court may include, but may not be limited to, actions for legal separation, dissolution of marriage (divorce), petitions to establish parental relationship, temporary restraining orders or actions to establish or modify custody or visitation. Please call805-882-4626 for further information. Information in Spanish here.

Who is required to attend? [ See  Local Court Rule 1507 ]

Parents are not required to attend the program together, and in cases filed under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act it is recommended that the parties not attend the same class.

What if I have a mediation appointment scheduled, do I need to attend a parent education program first?

YES. Parents who participate in custody mediation at Family Mediation Services need to complete this program PRIOR to the mediation. You need only attend the program one time, so it is not required that you attend the class before each mediation. If any parent has not completed the required parent education program by the date set for mediation, to the extent that is possible, the mediation date shall be reset to a later time to permit the parent(s) to first attend the program. The mediator may, at his or her discretion, proceed with the mediation if it is in the best interest of the children. In any case, the mediator will first require any parent who has not attended the program, and who has not obtained a waiver of the requirement to attend the class, to sign a written stipulation (agreement), which will become a court order, requiring the parent to attend the required program by no later than a specified date.

Parents attending mediation shall not bring children from the age of infancy to five (5) years of age, or the mediation may have to be rescheduled. Children six (6) to twelve (12) years of age must have an adult supervisor or the mediation will have to be rescheduled.

The court may accept verification of attendance at an equivalent parent education program located in another county or state, if the attendance at our local program is found to be a hardship to a parent living outside the local area.

An order delaying or waiving the requirement of attendance at the parent education program may be obtained from the court upon a showing of good cause. [ See Local Court Rule 1507 ]